Trunk



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Patented Sept. 16

- (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

P. J. PALIOA.

TRUNK.

No. 436,566. Patented Sept. 16, 1890.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK J. PALICA, OF RACINE, VISCONSIN.

TRUNK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 436,566, dated September 16, 1890.

Application iiled May l0, 1890. Serial No. 351,244. (No model.)

To caf/ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK J. PALICA, of Racine, in the county of Racine, and in the State of Visconsin, have invented certain new and usefulIlnprovements in Trunks; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof.

My invention relates to trunks and other similar receptacles having hinged tops or covers and designed to inclose wearingfapparel, commercial samples, or other articles during transportation; and my in vention consists in certain peculiar and novel features of construction and arrangement, as hereinafter described, and pointed out in the appended claims.

In order that my invention may be fully understood, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a transverse vertical section of the upper part of a trunk constructed in accordance with my invention, the line of seetion extending through one of the top hinges. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of one of the rear upper corners of the same, showing the hinge corner irons or straps. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the parts shown in Figs. l and 2. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of an entire trunk constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 5 is a plan View of a valance constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a trunk provided with the valance shown in Fig. 5.

The objects of my invention are, first, to

-produce a trunk the top or cover of which shall not occupy any of the interior space of the trunk nor obstruct the removal of articles from the trunk, nor prevent free access to the interior thereof for any purpose; further more, to prevent any possibility of knocking oii the top from the body of the trunk by violent handling when' the top is closed; also, to produce a valance which shall present solid faces atpthe angles of the trunk top or lid, and which shall insure economy of material when applied to the trunk, and, finally, to produce a trunk of superior general strength and durability. These obj ects I attain by virtue of the construction which I will now proceed to describe.

Referring to the drawings, A designates the body portion of the trunk, said portion being preferably of rectangular form, as shown in Fig. 4. The upper parts a of the end pieces a of body A are inclined from the back b to the front b of said body portion, the upper edge c of the back b rising above the upper edge c of the front Z2 and being flush with the upperedges o of said end pieces.

E designates a horizontal strip, which is secured to the upper part of the back b of the trunk-body, and the upper edge of which is formed midway of its length with a wide tongue or projection e, for a purpose hereinafter fully explained.

The upper edges a of the end pieces a are each formed midway of its length with a wide recess d, while the upper edge o of the front piece b is formed midway of its length also with a wide recess f. The purposes of these recesses cl f will also be presently described.

G designates the top or lid of the trunk, which is hinged, preferably, at its ends to the back b of the body A, as hereinafter more fully described, and the end pieces g of which are widest at their outer ends and taper upwardly toward the rear edge of the back b to accord with the inclination of upper edges of the end pieces a. The outer ends of the end pieces g are connected by a front'piece g', which is secured also to the front edge of the top G. The under edges of the side pieces g are formed midway of their length with Wide tongues g2, and the under edge of the front piece g is formed midway of its length also with a wide tongue g3, the said tongues g2 g3 registering with the recesses d f when the top G is closed down upon the body A. The rear edge of the top G is formed with a wide recess g4, which receives the tongue e when said top is closed. A strip G2, having a metal under strip G', is secured to the upper surface of the top G and contiguous to the rear edge thereof, serving to close the upper part of recess gl. It will thus be seen that when the top of the trunk is closed it is secured in all directions against displacement by violent handling, owing to the interlocking of the tongues and recesses just described, even when no valance is provided. It isalso obvious that these tongues and recesses will act with equal efficiency whether the top be hinged to the body portion, as shown and here inafter described, or in thevusual or any preferred manner. Itis tobe understood, however, that I prefer to employ a valance H in order to exclude moisture, &c., from the interior of the trunk, as well as to assist in preventing the accidental displacement of the top before described. As shown in Fig. 5, this valance,` which is preferably of malleable iron,

is received in the form of a blank cast or formed with angles h, so that when its ends h are bent up, as indicated by the dotted lines y y, they shall accurately fit the front piece g and end pieces g of the trunk-top. This strip or blank may either be made 'in one piece, as shown in Fig. 5, or it maybe divided, as indicated by' the dotted line at and jointed by lapping the adjacent edges and riveting them beneath the hasp of the trunk lock or fastening. This divided or sectional form of the valance allows for the usual slight variations in the standard measurement of the trunk-top.

The front corners of the top are preferably strengthened by corner straps or irons I I, while the lower front and rear corners of the body portion A are secured by similar corner irons or straps I, all of said straps being integral castings and sufficiently heavy to wilhstand heavy blows arising from the violent handling to which this class of articles is usually subjected.

J K designate the two leaves ofl each of the pair of hinges, by which the top G is connected to the body portion A. rlhe leaves J are secured to strips L, which are attached to the upper portion of the back h, as shown, and each of said leaves J is formed with an extension j, projecting from it at right angles and secured to the upper part of the end portion'a of the trunk-body. The upper arm of each extension y' is formed with an offset j', and extends obliquely forward and downward to correspond with the forward and downward inclination of the corresponding upper edge a of the trunk-body. The upper leaf K of each hinge is secured to one end of the strip G2, contiguous to one of the rear corners of the top G, and is formed with an extension 7c, which projects at right angles to the leaf and is secured to the rear part of the corresponding side piece g of said top. The lower arm of each extension 7c projects obliquely forward and downward to correspond with the inclination of the lower edge of the corresponding side piece g and carries av downwardly-extending lug 7c. When the top of the trunk is closed, the lugs lcenter beneath the offsets j and thus aid further to prevent any lateral displacement of the top. It will thus be seen also that the leaves J K form corner-irons for theA top and body and greatly strengthen the same against the shocks resulting from rough handling.

The outer upper corner ofV each hinge-leaf J is formed with an integral abutment or protuberance n, which constitutes a bumper for protecting the adjacent corner of the trunk, said bumpers extending outward both rearwardly and laterally for the purpose. The adjacent ends of the hinge-pintles do not enter these bumpers; but the inner ends of the latter lie against the contiguous pintle-sockets .of the upper hinge-leaves, as shown, and thus protect the latter and the pintle. The strips Gf2 L permit the pintles to lie between them, and thus protect the same against injury from violent handling.

From the above description it will be seen that whenv the top is raised it leaves the interior of the trunk entirely free and unobstructed, and thus permits ready access to the same.

The trunk is very strong` and durable and will endure much rougher treatment than trunks as heretofore constructed.

Having thus described my invention, whatI claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An improved hinge for trunks, consisting of a lower leaf provided with an angular and oblique extension having an offset and an upper leaf having a corresponding angular oblique extension provided with a stud to enter the offset, substantially as and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, with the body and topv of a trunk and strips secured thereto adjacent to the meeting edges thereof, of a hinge secured to said strips in such manner that the pintle shall be interposed between the strips, said hinges having enlarged outer corners' constituting rearwardly and endwise extending bumpers, substantially as described,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand, at Racine, in the county of Racine and State of Wisconsin, in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK J. PALIOA. Witnesses:

WM. H. LUECK, WILL J. GooDALE.

IOO 

